Honey Butter Fried Chicken
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3361 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60618 b/t Sacramento Ave & School St
Avondale - Get Directions
- Phone number (773) 478-4000
- Message the business
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Business website honeybutter.com
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“The corn muffins, sweet potato salad, and craft cocktails were also terrific.” in 106 reviews
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“Also tried the pimento Mac and cheese as well as the Thai curry creamed corn.” in 64 reviews
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“I opted for the 4 piece, 2 sides (creamed corn and kale/cabbage slaw) and the Avondale Ginger Mule for my drink.” in 31 reviews
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0.4 Miles away from Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Jessica P. said "My usual grocery store taco place was closed so my husband and I decided to check this place out with our 2 year old. We…" read more
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6.0 Miles away from Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Kathleen F. said "Great neighborhood bar! This place has changed names/owners a few times over the years. Most recently it became Newbe's…" read more


Recommended Reviews
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- JL Q.
- Pompano Beach, FL
- 24 friends
- 165 reviews
8/13/2015
1 check-inMy friends are faithful and regular patrons of this northside establishment and everytime they visit it, my mouth drools. So, on a recent trip to Chicago and a visit with those friends, we asked them to take us there for dinner. This is now another notch on my trip I can scratch.
The "honey butter" doesn't really refer to the chicken but to the honey butter served with the chicken that you can apply to it. It's the same kind of honey butter you grew up spreading on graham crackers but it's SOOO much better on fried chicken. And this fried chicken comes from the boneless chicken ranch of Larson cartoon fame because they have deboned the thighs and breasts to make it easier to dig into. There is not ONE ounce of grease on this fried chicken, making it (at least in my book!) the healthiest fried chicken on earth. I'm not kidding when I say this. As hot as it was, you could tell it had only come out of a fryer minutes before and even after sitting through our meal, there wasn't any grease dripping.
We got a couple of side dishes with our chicken, choosing the mac and cheese. Rotini pasta in a great cheddar cheese that was light enough to prevent it sticking and a bacon topping over it, it was delish. We also got a cole slaw that had kale and cabbage in it that was a refreshing twist and gave it new taste. The last side was their roasted garlic grits. They had a nice garlic taste but I thought was made a little on the mild side. And they were too runny for this southerner and should be thicker but it's difficult to thicken them up and keep them in a consistency to wait for customers to order them so I understand how and why they are the way they are. The dinners are also served with tasty little cornbreads that are some of the best I've ever eaten.
There is a full bar to choose from to serve your drinks. We saw a bloody mary circulating for it's orderer that is served with a fried chicken wing in it. We almost ordered one just for that. Instead, I had a couple of Oberon (?) draft beers while my companions had a couple bottles of a white wine they really adored. The staff is the most friendly and outgoing you can find and our friends told us that all the employees are share owners of the restaurant so I imagine that is the reason. They really love their business and it shows throughout your dining experience.
If you visit one you will return again and again! -
- Joel S.
- Chicago, IL
- 27 friends
- 20 reviews
8/9/2015
1 check-inWhat can I say about this place. The chicken, the atmosphere, the kid friendly patio, the staff, and yes the pimiento Mac & Cheese. Yep, that pretty much sums all the things I can start off with, but I have to step back and think of how to give a non biased review.
The place is bright and you get a sense of community when you first walk in. There's always a friendly smile at the front ready to take your order. Once you place your order its off to find a place to be seated. We chose the outside patio because of our 5 year old. She let her creative juices out on their huge magnetic wall that allowed for her to pretty much let loose while her food came. We been here a few times in the past year and have come to find ourselves judging others by the quality that we find here. With that being said... here's my review.
The pros and cons:
Pros:
- Great chicken. They butcher in house and only use organic free range chickens, which at first bite. You will understand why they are as good as they are. The chicken is lightly dusted with flour from what I can tell and then fried. The chicken was moist inside and had a beautiful crunch on the outside. Our server made sure to remind us to put some of the homemade honey butter on it and it was an even better adventure.
- Will never stop talking about their Pimiento Mac & Cheese. I don't know how to describe it properly, but I can only get it as close as having a homemade southern meal. I truly enjoy ordering it when we go.
- Prices are bit higher than most fried chicken restaurants, but it makes up for it in quality.
- Staff is super friendly
- Their iced teas are brewed in house and you can sweeten them up with simple syrup or agave.. Sweet!
Now onto the bad parts.
Cons:
- Prices are a bit higher than most. I spent $48 on meals for three and we only had 3 drinks, small Man & Cheese, small mashed potatoes, and I think a total of 6 pieces of chicken. This makes it a bit difficult to be an regular with a family. Though its a great place for every other weekend.
- Location could be better, but I guess it's just me wanting this place to be closer to me. I live in Logan Square.
That's pretty much it. The place is solid with their offerings and its shows every time we go and see a full house. Definitely a place to check out. -
- Valerie L.
- Los Angeles, CA
- 138 friends
- 63 reviews
- Elite ’15
8/5/2015
What an AMAZING discovery we made during our visit in Chicago!
We (luckily) were staying just a few doors down from HBFC when visiting the city and thought the place looked promising. So happy we tried it because now I have bragging rights over a fun little gem to recommend friends going to visit Chi-Town.
I have never had butter more delicious than the honey butter here. DO take their recommendation and slather on some butter on the fried chicken because it tastes amazing! Their fried chicken is tender, but still crunchy on the outside and has great flavor with or without the butter.
I also tried their pimento mac and cheese, which, while it is definitely a favorite, is a VERY strong cheese. Think cheddar x5! So if you are averse to strong cheese flavors, this might not be for you. It is a little "watery" for those who are die hard no liquid mac n cheesers, but I personally enjoyed the flavors quite a bit.
I also tried the kale coleslaw, which is also a bit saucy but tastes great. I ended up finishing the entire side and wishing I had more, since it offers a really nice balance to the fried chicken. Love their corn muffins, especially with that delicious butter.
There is a really great patio out back to catch some sunshine, as well as a few indoor seating areas. If you're in the area, I would definitely recommend! -
7/7/2015
1 check-inI am a fan, but I was annoyed with a few aspects of this place. Came here to check this off my Chicago bucket list, maybe I would have had a better experience if this place wasn't overly hyped?
Walking up on a Saturday night at around 7, I called ahead of time and the hostess told me that we would have to wait at minimum 15 minutes to be seated. That's not bad for a Saturday at all. What she didn't mention, and what I didn't know until we got there, was that you have to wait in line to order your food first before being seated. That means, despite countless open tables surrounding us, we had to wait in line standing for 20 minutes to place our order before being seated. There was one guy working the register, and about 20 people standing before us. Why we couldn't be seated first and then order is beyond me.
Placed our order, I got the two piece fried honey butter chicken with cornbread, kale slaw, sweet potato salad, and a rhubarb cocktail. Boyfriend got the buffalo chicken sandwich with pimento mac and cheese, and a beer.
Great patio seating outside, very friendly wait staff, and the food came out in about 5 minutes after being seated. The fried chicken was some of the best I've ever had, they tell you to spread the honey butter on it, which I'd never done before, but it makes or breaks the experience if you don't. Boyfriend's sandwich was amazing, but with a leftover pool of buffalo sauce on the platter, way too much sauce. Mac and cheese was excellent, but kale slaw was beyond bland. Just basically shaved kale with a plain white sauce of some kind (not sure if mayonnaise or greek yogurt?). Sweet potatoes were excellent, but served cold, so it was a little strange. It was a sweet potato salad, so I get that potato salad is usually served cold, but even a guy we were sitting next to chirped up and agreed that it would taste better served hot.
All in all good food, but not worth waiting in line for. I would come back, but after spending around 30$ on just myself for fried chicken and mediocre sides, I would order ahead and get takeout instead. Definitely extreme hit or miss with what you decide to order, I would suggest sticking to the fried chicken individual pieces or sandwiches, mac and cheese, and the creamed corn which looked good but we didn't get to try.-
Buffalo chicken sandwich with pimento Mac and cheese, really good but way too much sauceBuffalo chicken sandwich with pimento Mac and cheese, really good but way too much sauce -
Two piece honey butter fried chicken with cornbread, sweet potato salad, kale slaw and rhubarb cocktailTwo piece honey butter fried chicken with cornbread, sweet potato salad, kale slaw and rhubarb cocktail
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7/27/2015
Listed in 2015 Yelp 100 ChallengeDudes. This shizz is amazing. I've been gettin' down on fried chicken for 30-something years now, and I've had some ridiculously good chicken (my favorite is from a place called Chickens, appropriately... that is the stuff of my childhood dreams!), but I digress...
People in Chicago do not make the fried chicken up to my So-Ill par. I said it. I mean it. But holy crap does Honey Butter Fried Chicken take a killer stab at it.
I've only picked up for carryout a few times, but every single time it is piping hot, crispy, golden, perfect. These aren't mutant KFC chickens. This is legit, delicious, amazing fried chicken. And then you put what on it? Honey butter? I mean give me a freaking break.
Order online, it is ready for pick-up in 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES, I SAID! That's shorter than it takes for me to drive my happy butt over here, shorter than the amount of time it takes for some angsty broad to give you the Popeye's you ordered in the drive-thru, shorter than running to Jewel to pick up beers to go with your chicken. You get the picture.
Sides are delicious, cornbread is great, chicken is just ridiculous.
Go. -
8/12/2015
1 check-inThe actual honey butter is delicious. They corn bread muffins were also pretty damn good. Together they were heavenly. The chicken itself was so so. I don't like paying that much for just dark meat, I prefer to choose what pieces I get but that's how they roll. If you are a fried chicken fanatic you need to try it. Better than Parsons, but Harold's is still my #1.
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8/2/2015
1 check-inI ordered the 4 piece chicken, and had the sides of Mac and cheese and sweet potato salad.
The chicken was great! The honey butter was delicious. I literally want to stock pile on that itself and just add it to everything. The Mac & cheese was also very good. I liked the sweet potato salad, and I know it's a salad and salads are not warm. But it just was so strange eating it cold. I wanted it to be warm so bad, I think it would have went from good, to outstanding.
The service is friendly and attentive! Overall I will be back! -
5/8/2015
ROTD 6/28/2015Listed in The Cluckin' ChickenFried chicken is one of my four major food groups. The others being chili, bananas, and string cheese. Fried chicken is probably the most exciting.
I'm a Parson's fan and have been known to visit more than once a week, but I'm open to all forms of fried yard bird and needed to cross HBFC off my bucket (beak-et?) list. The teaser I had with Piece's HBFC pizza was just not enough. I wasn't disappointed with our visit.
I tried a two piece order of chicken and my companion got the fried onion string sandwich and we split a pimento cheese mac. A little of that thing goes a long way, but was quite good. I liked that the chicken was very crisp on the outside but moist on the inside and the paprika is a great touch. Obviously that honey butter is delish as well.
The space isn't huge, but if you don't go at prime time, or now that it's warm, hit the patio, you should be ok. We're both totally all about going back. Someday I'll hit all the chicken hot-spots in one massive chicken crawl and then promptly die on the sidewalk. -
- Jessica G.
- Chicago, IL
- 40 friends
- 200 reviews
- Elite ’15
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- daynia S.
- Chicago, IL
- 2 friends
- 87 reviews
7/25/2015
1 check-inTasty buffalo wings! Definitely will come back. Wished the corn muffins were warm but that's a minor detail.
Service was great and the food came out quickly and piping hot. The honey butter is not too sweet and gives the chicken that "chicken and waffle" taste that folks are into.
Chicken moist and crunchy. The Mac and cheese was ok.
Everyone enjoyed the food. Eating out on the patio is a nice touch too. -
7/14/2015
1 check-inI don't have the words! Perfectly crispy, seasoned, juicy fried chicken with no bones! (Except for the drumstick). But I was amazed by how tender and meaty each piece of chicken is. You get a lot of chicken without all the fat, tendons, and other undesirable parts. Just juicy, crispy, yummy chicken. I could talk about their chicken all day. Don't forget to put the honey butter on it! The corn muffins feel like an afterthought, but they are still yummy.
We tried the pimento mac and cheese and the smashed potatoes. They are perfect complements to the fried chicken, but I wouldn't say they stand on their own as spectacular. The chicken is definitely the star. We sat outside and enjoyed some refreshing iced tea (free refills) and a Damned Good Sweet Iced Tea made with Death Door's white whiskey. Perfect for a summer day.
I can't wait to go back and try their chicken sandwiches. We went around 3 pm and they were still pretty hopping but not packed. They don't take reservations because they just have counter service, so heads up that they are very busy for brunch. With many options for how many pieces of chicken you want and a lot of delicious flavor for the price, I can only recommend that you make sure you get enough chicken! A four and two piece with two sides was a good amount for two hungry people. But be prepared to want more! (Soon, real soon) -
4/22/2015
1 check-inDisclaimer * I'm a vegetarian going to a chicken restaurant so I cannot comment on the primary food item.
I came here for brunch with my husband and some friends after seeing it on check please. I was expecting it to be line out the door crazy busy. However, while it was bustling, it wasn't ridiculously busy.
I ordered a Bloody Mary which was delicious! It was spicy and had quite a kick which I liked. It came with a chicken wing garnish which I thought was cute. They had a pretty good beer collection too.
I ordered the Mac n cheese and biscuits. I also tried my husband's grits. All the food was good, but the star was the honey butter. Omg. I could eat tubs of that. My husband said that the chicken was good, but there is better chicken to be had.
One comment about the clientele- lots of babies. So if you're not a baby person, don't come here on a Saturday morning. -
- Lindsay M.
- Chicago, IL
- 180 friends
- 207 reviews
- Elite ’15
6/25/2015
This place is everything. I took some convincing to get me through the door, I just didn't understand what could be so special about fried chicken. And then, my world changed.
After many nudges, my guy got me in the door. We ordered some honey butter fried chicken, wings, and pimento mac and cheese. We also enjoyed the natural sodas. Within a bite, my body now began to crave HBFC. My mouth is watering just writing this review.
The chicken is tender and juicy- the breading is to die for. The pimento mac and cheese is basically what my dreams are made of. I order it for holidays now and it makes the family especially happy. The wings were cooked to perfection and just excellent.
On top of an amazing food experience, I have had nothing but pleasant, sincere, and kind interactions with the people working and the owners (who are generally always there).
What a cool little family owned joint. I have become and will remain a loyal regular here. -
- Troy H.
- Chicago, IL
- 42 friends
- 70 reviews
8/2/2015
1 check-inCame up for brunch on a Sunday; place wasn't crowded, food was served quickly. Really enjoyed the root beer made with pure can sugar.
I had the brunch portion of chicken and grits and a side of sweet chili Thai wings. My companions shared a 4 piece of chicken and a side of mac and cheese, and a couple other things I don't remember.
I get where the appeal is putting the honey butter on the chicken, that's fine. We'll get to that.
The chicken and grits came with a fried egg on top, and it was a decent sized potion and very good. The Thai wings were just all right. The mac and cheese had pimento cheese, which certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I don't know if pimento cheese works, especially in a town where milder cheeses are the norm for the old standby.
Now, the fried chicken. Was it awesome? No. Was it good? Yes, and I definitely like the decadence of putting a very good honey butter concoction on your chicken, but the chicken has to be hot so it melts, and doesn't look like you're putting frosting on your drumstick. Ours was not.
So, would I go back? Sure. Would I go back at a time where people are waiting for hours to get this? Hell no. I'm glad to have gotten it while I could. -
7/20/2015
1 check-inReally good fried chicken. Guys, stop going to Parson's. It's not that good. HBFC is way better. Perfectly seasoned, very moist, very delicious. It's a little expensive, but you will forget about that once you bite into this chicken. I also had sides of the mashed potatoes and the collard greens. The potatoes were amazing although there could have been a bit more gravy. The collard greens were interesting... I have only had them one other time so I don't really have much to compare them with. They seemed fine, though. The point is..... you need to get this chicken in your life.
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- Ar K.
- Dayton, OH
- 1 friend
- 11 reviews
7/19/2015
Been here before, but since I'm a yelper now im yelping.
Ordered the brunch special Biscuits and gravy with a piece of chicken and an egg. Was pretty good. Though being a classic bisquit and gravy guy I was expecting more of a white gravy. The gravy was a chicken gravy, still pretty good. The only problem with the bisquit is that it was one. Could have been more. Im fat, i need busquits. The piece of fried chicken was boneless thigh. Really only like breast meat. But good fried chicken can even make the parts you dont like taste good, Honey Butter does that. The egg was sunny side up. Havent had that in a long time. It was really good and went well with everything else. Overall, very impressive. Highly recommend this place.
If you do come here expect more from the food. The staff could be friendlier, friendliest was one of the lady servers. Pretty also.
Also, tried my nieces pimento mac n cheese since shes picky and no way should get near it. It was great. Just wish they had smoked ham. Would be a killer combo, maybe one day and Im in Chicago when that happens.-
Yummy!!! Biscuits and gravy with boneless fried chicken thigh and a sunny side up eggYummy!!! Biscuits and gravy with boneless fried chicken thigh and a sunny side up egg
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- Triphena W.
- Chicago, IL
- 137 friends
- 144 reviews
- Elite ’15
2/28/2015
3 check-insGo here for brunch and order the following:
Chicken and Grits- creamy roasted garlic grits topped with tender roast chicken, chicken cracklings, buffalo honey sauce, and a fried egg.
Biscuits and Gravy- open faced biscuit topped with fried chicken, gravy, and a fried egg.
Pimento Mac & Cheese- Wisconsin cheddar, garlic bread crumbs.
Shared these items today, and both of us thought the food was exceptional. The flavors and execution were on point. We arrived right when they opened at 11am. The room was filled before noon. You have to be patient. This isn't a fast food joint so the food takes a while to arrive, but once you begin eating, you'll realize it's worth the wait. I've had other items here like the individual pieces of fried chicken, fried chicken sandwich, dump cake, etc. These are all good, but the above three are phenomenal. Highly recommend!-
Fried chicken on a biscuit with gravy and a fried egg. Pimento mac & cheese in the background. Both excellent!Fried chicken on a biscuit with gravy and a fried egg. Pimento mac & cheese in the background. Both excellent!
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- Tim W.
- Chicago, IL
- 3 friends
- 18 reviews
7/5/2015
1 check-inKudos to the creativity with the entrées.
Like someone said before me. The staff is very friendly & welcoming. The have goose island root beer, That gets an A+ from me. The patio is a great place to sit and enjoy your food while catching some rays and hanging with your buds / family / significant other.
But the only reason I am giving them three stars is because I can not say that I was wowed by their Mac & cheese as others have been. Was pleased with The Original Fried Chicken Sandwich but did not seem to be fresh as if the just had made it. Had a cool feel to it.
But don't get me wrong. It was cooked all the way through.
The Kale & Cabbage Slaw was delicious.-
The original fried chicken sandwich, pimento mac & cheese, kale & cabbage slaw...The original fried chicken sandwich, pimento mac & cheese, kale & cabbage slaw...
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- Sylvia G.
- Chicago, IL
- 31 friends
- 24 reviews
6/9/2015
1 check-inHonestly...I'm a bit disappointed. I've been excited to go here for a while. The chicken just didn't meet my expectations. It wasn't bad..it simply wasn't worth the hype. It was just a little too dry for my tastes.. The honey butter was delicious, but it didn't make up for the subpar chicken. I feel like the chicken should have been of a higher quality because of how much we paid (a 4 piece fried chicken with honey butter and 3 mini corn muffins was $15).
With all that said, I did love the corn muffins. The patio in the back was pretty awesome as well.
I probably won't go back to HBFC. I want their honey butter recipe though!-
4 piece fried chicken, corn muffins, mac and cheese4 piece fried chicken, corn muffins, mac and cheese
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- Kimberly K.
- Chicago, IL
- 71 friends
- 276 reviews
7/20/2015
Butter on fried chicken? Enough said.
The chicken is super crispy on the outside and really juicy inside. It's a perfect combo. When you add the butter on top and some cornbread, it is perfection. The cocktails are solid too and chilling on the back patio on a cool Chicago night is great. They have some pretty solid vegetarian options as well. Other menu favorites of mine are the Kale and Cabbage slaw and fired onion & hummus sandwich. -
5/8/2015
"Dude, Cormac, wanna go try this really good place for chicken on Thursday?"
"I dunno, Theo, I'm getting fitted for my bespoke suit that day."
"The line's only like an hour long, Cormac!"
"Where's it located?! That's like nothing compared to other popular spots we hit up on our $600, 38 year-old bikes"
"Up in Avondale, on Elston Ave."
"Oh man, I'm there. Just lemme look up where Elston Ave. is."
(30 minutes later)
"Oh sh*t, Cormac. Look at all the fried chicken I get for $15. Four pieces! Nice!"
"Dude, I just ordered some mac and cheese AND mash and some cornbread. Totally worth half of our electric bill payment!"
"Theo! Dude, so many cans of beer that I pretend to know to choose from. They don't even give you a glass so you can show off to all the other scenesters what you're drinking!"
"Totally gonna ride the Puch here for the back patio...hope it dosen't get stolen in this sketchy hood, though."
"Naw, Cormac. Just use Uber."
2nd star for the patio.
Otherwise, you just paid $45 to eat a fried chicken dinner.
On old Elston Ave.
After waiting 45 minutes in line. -
- Vency W.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 2 reviews
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- Janelle H.
- Riverdale, IL
- 23 friends
- 38 reviews
7/13/2015
1 check-inI've been wanting to visit this place for MONTHS and when I finally did, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Everything my friend and I ordered was beyond our expectations. Of course the main attraction is the chicken but the sides were just as phenomenal. The sides weren't simply traditional and had their own twist of flavor and freshness. I have nothing bad to say about HBFC. Location is PERFECT because parking is free (for now). It's like a hidden gem because it's never a long wait to order or and you seat yourself. The outdoor space is lively and I can only imagine what it's like at night because of the lighting and atmosphere. So far, I've been twice but I wish I could go back every weekend. Unfortunately, the distance from my house and waistline won't allow it.
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Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, Pimento Mac & Cheese, Roasted Garlic Grits, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Kale & Cabbage SlawHoney Butter Chicken Biscuit, Pimento Mac & Cheese, Roasted Garlic Grits, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Kale & Cabbage Slaw -
Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, Pimento Mac & Cheese, Roasted Garlic Grits, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Kale & Cabbage SlawHoney Butter Chicken Biscuit, Pimento Mac & Cheese, Roasted Garlic Grits, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Kale & Cabbage Slaw -
Challah French Toast with Bourbon Maple Syrup and Honey ButterChallah French Toast with Bourbon Maple Syrup and Honey Butter - See all photos from Janelle H. for Honey Butter Fried Chicken
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- Karen P.
- Round Lake, IL
- 12 friends
- 17 reviews
5/3/2015
Very cute, quaint neighborhood eatery. Saw it on Check Please and brought my family of 4 out to sample.
The fried chicken was really well seasoned and my drumstick was definitely kicked up a notch with the honey butter. It was weird to me to lather the chicken with the butter but I appreciated the taste. My husband was not so convinced it was the right thing to do having the sweet versus savory argument. He did enjoy the fried chicken sandwich though. Our cornbread was tasty. The pimento mac and cheese was good, the creamy grits even better. The collard greens were average, a little undercooked and not much to talk about. The coleslaw was just too extra and not in a good way. It seems that the recipe is so far away from traditional cole slaw that you would have to acquire the taste for it which none of the 4 of us did.
The food is well prepared and fresh but make no mistake in thinking you are having traditional southern cuisine. It was a cool ecletic revamp. We also really enjoyed the sofa fountain offering black cherry, ginger ale and mandarin orange beverages.
We drove an hour plus from home to dine here and it was worth the experience dining out on the patio during an awesome weather Saturday listening to jazz music. I do feel that for the price of $65 for 2 adults, a teenager and an 8 year old to eat fried chicken and sides was a bit pricey for what we received in value. It was nice but no one was blown away. If I was in the neighborhood again I would stop in. -
6/2/2015
1 check-inMust have- the classic chicken sandwich, pickle of the day
In the vein of modern twists on soul classics, Honey Butter Fried Chicken infuses traditional southern home cooking with contemporary flavor profiles and modern twists. The service was good, but even in an off hour, the limited seating is packed, especially when the patio is closed.
The fried chicken had got a great crisp crust with some zing that really shines when slathered in honey butter. The chicken pieces are smaller, but my basis of comparison are those huge, juicy, and pumped full of chemicals southern fried chicken.
The sides are good compliments. The Mac and cheese has a sharp cheddar and strong pimento flavor and is complimented nicely by the excellent kale slaw. The cobbler of the day had good flavors, but was all mush and texturally unappealing.
The sandwiches are really standouts- they combine the good chicken with complimentary flavors and textures in a joy between bread slices. Always worth trying the new featured sandwich. -
- Ed L.
- Chicago, IL
- 5 friends
- 4 reviews
8/9/2015
1 check-inAs a southerner, finding the best damn fried chicken in Chicago was a pleasant surprise! Well worth the wait, as they cook each order fresh. Don't miss the sweet potato salad, grits, collard greens or creamed corn either. Pure cane sugar sodas from the fountain, a great selection of local craft beers, and homemade desserts round out the experience.
This place is as much a must as pizza and hot dogs! -
- Dustin H.
- Chicago, IL
- 137 friends
- 305 reviews
5/30/2015
1 check-inListed in My ChicagoI woke up this morning to my wife talking about fried chicken. This is notable because, in general, she's not a fan of fried chicken. She won't eat meat on the bone, and the notion of consuming skin is something she's just not interested in.
So yeah, I had to jump on this opportunity. She did a bit of research and confirmed honey butter had some boneless options, so we hopped in the car and headed up to Avondale.
Thankfully it was a bit cold and rainy out, so the brunch line wasn't too bad. I can only imagine how crazy it gets when it's warm and the patio is open. They've got a pretty efficient system in place, and the wait for food really wasn't terrible, but still... the place gets packed. We sat in the back, against the wall and were promptly served our drinks.
My wife got the traditional HBFC bloody mary, which had a chicken wing floating on top that I immediately gobbled up. Delicious and salty! I ordered the threesome (Michelada with tequila) which was quite nice. I actually preferred it to my wife's bloody, which felt a little under seasoned and under boozed. Good regardless.
As for the chicken? Was it the best I've had in Chicago? No... but it was good. The seasoning was great. While I'm happy my wife was able to enjoy a boneless breast (which she really did!) I found the bone in leg to be much more moist and delicious.
Smearing some of the honey butter on the chicken was certainly decedent. Such a wonderful combination of savory and sweet. As for spicy, the honey buffalo dipping sauce was delicious, though I question the $1.50 charge for what really should have been free. Same for the delicious garlic aioli. Delicious but seriously? $1.50 for an ounce of sauce. Kind of ridiculous, but still, yes... delicious. I'm not actually complaining here.
We loved the sides by the way. The Thai green curry creamed corn was served up ridiculously hot, but we gladly burned our mouths. The pimento mac & cheese could have used both more pimento and cheese, but was great. The kale and cabbage slaw with cumin felt out of place, but was awesome. I could have easily eaten an entire bowl if I wasn't eating anything else.
Oh and yes... The cornbread biscuits were terrific, with of course that luscious honey butter. Goddamn. So nice.
While the chicken wasn't unbelievable, it was the combination of all of the textures and flavors on one plate that made it. We really enjoyed our meal, and there is no question we'll be back.
*diabetics, take way more insulin than you think you need. there is honey in everything! -
- Hana Y.
- Chicago, IL
- 2 friends
- 66 reviews
8/9/2015
For all the hype this place gets, I was a little disappointed. The batter on the chicken has great flavor, but it wasn't super crispy. I also found the honey butter to be too sweet, so I didn't enjoy that on my chicken. It is also very expensive...for an 8 pc with some very small sides, we paid 40 bucks. I'm more of a Harold's kind of girl, I think.
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- Shirley S.
- Elmwood Park, IL
- 26 friends
- 9 reviews
4/16/2015
1 check-inThe butter was tasty, but that's it.
The chicken was overcooked and tasted fishy. Either the oil wasn't the right temp and they cooked it too long or the oil was old and needed to be switched out. At that point it didn't really matter. At $15 for a 4 piece and your sign reads FRIED CHICKEN, then you better know how to do it right every single time.
The smashed potatoes were overcooked and the mac & cheese tasted like the jabañero cheetos. I started to wonder if the noodles were just tossed in the Tostitos salsa con queso dip.
This place is nothing to brag about, but again to each their own. Sometimes you either love something or you hate it. I personally don't care for establishments that don't take pride in their name. Is all about the money? Best wishes!-
4 piece fried chicken Sides Smashed potatoes Mac & cheese4 piece fried chicken Sides Smashed potatoes Mac & cheese
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- Travis A.
- Chicago, IL
- 9 friends
- 3 reviews
7/25/2015
Honey butter... Atop fried chicken with just the right amount of kick. Simply put it is amazing.
My girlfriend and I have been wanting to go to HBFC for some time now, and finally made it for the first time last night 7/24/15. We ordered a two piece chicken (which comes with corn bread) an order of wings, and the mac n cheese. It all lived up to the hype. The chicken was so tender with a kick of spice and the honey butter set it off. The Mac was thick, creamy, and delicious. The honey butter is amazing on anything you order.
It was no surprise to us the food was amazing, but it was not the best part of our visit. From the moment we ordered our food, to the moment we got up to leave we experienced the absolute best customer service we'd ever seen. Every single person was extremely kind, helping, prompt, and very personal when having a conversation.
We will be back! Often. We also signed up for the email list with a little hope to get invited to the secret dinners up stairs! Thank you HBFC, and this is a must try for everyone. -
- Cinthya Q.
- Logan Square, Chicago, IL
- 22 friends
- 50 reviews
- Elite ’15
5/7/2015
This space is amazing (outdoor patio!), the drinks are delicious, and the honey butter is heavenly.
The fried chicken was fried very well; moist inside and crispy on the outside. The honey butter was so good and it added the perfect amount of sweetness to our chicken. We had the original honey butter fried chicken sandwich and the LA LOUISIANNE. I enjoyed the honey butter fried sandwich much more than the Louisianne (it had too much mustard for my taste).
We ordered the mac and cheese and kale cole slaw as our sides. The cole slaw had a nice crunch to it and the mac and cheese was very cheesy.
We tried the damn good sweet tea and it was delicious. I wish the glasses were bigger because I wanted more.
Overall I think this place was ok. It's competing with other BBQ and fried chicken places on the Northside and while the chicken was delicious the sides were only ok. -
4/6/2015
Listed in Hanging in the Square, The Yelp 100 Challenge 2015I'm not a connoisseur of fried chicken, but I think I can safely say this is the best you'll get in Chicago. I really enjoyed my food experience here and I'd go back again.
They seem to know what they're doing with the table-waiting situation, but if you find yourself waiting after you've ordered, there's a small bar in back where you can sit and have a drink. I tested that space out since I arrived early and was waiting for friends. Prices are reasonable and they have a couple of in-house cocktails that seem good (like spiked tea and lemonade). I think this are of the restaurant would be great once it's warm and their patio is open - definitely a place I'd consider for a summer night out.
The food is reasonably priced and the menu is big enough that you don't have to feel like a piece of fried chicken is your only food option. I got the fried chicken sandwich which was EXCELLENT with the spicy mayo and some kind of giardinara on top. The bread didn't get too soggy and the chicken stayed super crispy.
The sides all come separate but it's worth ordering a few and sharing with the table. The grits were delish, as was the cornbread (order extra) but the greens were too bitter for my tastes. I'd say go with the grits, cornbread, and mac and cheese - all sides that are always good, no matter what.
Speaking of cornbread - that honey butter on the cornbread is DELICIOUS. You have to get it and eat it with the honey butter. The honey butter is clearly their specialty and it's amazing. It's just the right amount of sweet added to really yummy whipped butter. Comes out tasting like excellence.
I'll be back, which is not a thing I say of many places. Usually I'll only go back if the occasion arises (meaning someone invites me) but I'll definitely go out of my way to eat here again. -
10/19/2014
1 check-inSlow your roll. The prices are too high to make a mistake with something like the Pimento Mac'N Cheese.
It looks like the hype has calmed; we hardly waited in line and there were plenty of seats. I ordered the 2-Piece Fried Chicken, the side of Pimento Mac'N Cheese, and a can of Vander Mill cider. I didn't find it to be outrageously priced, but I felt bad shelling out that much cash when the show stopper was the Corn Muffins. They say to "put the butter on the bird." I tried that, and it was tasty, but I felt the drumstick was great all on its own and their signature honey butter went much better with the bread. I also thought the paprika on the chicken was a nice touch but someone sprinkled it with too heavy a hand.
The Vander Mill cider was familiar and reliable. No complaints there. I feel macaroni and cheese should be the same. So, I was terribly let down to find that, despite the Velveeta-like yellow hue and consistency throughout, I couldn't detect the Wisconsin cheddar from the item description. Instead, I was assaulted by pimiento flavoring in every bite. A bold, peppery noodle dish it was. Mac & Cheese, IMO, it was not. My dining companion apologized for not warning me and said he'd tried it once before and has never ordered it again. -
- Pinky R.
- Chicago, IL
- 38 friends
- 39 reviews
3/28/2015
1 check-inVery good service and very good food, BUT for the price I would like more chicken. I ordered the French toast and Chicken. I had two big pieces of French toast but one small fried chicken breast. My parents ordered the Chicken & Grits and ended up ordering an extra piece of chicken.
But I will definitely be back. The food was very good. I love Louisiana inspired restaurants because Cajun/Creole are one of my favorite cuisines.
All is good, just give us a little more chicken.-
French Toast and Chicken. Very good but I would've liked another piece of chicken.French Toast and Chicken. Very good but I would've liked another piece of chicken.
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- Molly A.
- Chicago, IL
- 39 friends
- 23 reviews
3/28/2015
1 check-inI wish I could give this place 6 stars. Came here before a revolution brewery tour and it was hands down one of the best lunches I have ever had.
I had the original honey butter fried chicken sandwich. The jalapeño mayo was delicious!! Also tried the pimento Mac and cheese as well as the Thai curry creamed corn. Not to mention Daisy Cutter tall boys.. Does it get better?
Can't wait to come back when it's warm to check out the outdoor patio! -
- AJ M.
- Chicago, IL
- 37 friends
- 272 reviews
6/13/2015
1 check-inLotta reviews for this place, and I pass it by going to work so I made sure to try it out. Came on a hot afternoon, the patio here is pretty nice. I got the 2 piece for $8, pretty small pieces :( The server reminded me to put the "honey butter" on the chicken as he brought my food. Infact there are signs which say the same thing in this place. After eating the chicken I know why. The chicken wasn't as crispy as I would like, and also didn't have much flavor at all, lacked seasoning. The honey butter just gave the chicken a more sweet taste. Corn muffins were pretty good, but for me the pimento mac n cheese was the best, very rich with a small kick. Wish the menu had more options as well, maybe chicken n waffles. Dissapointed that the star attraction of this place is really sweet butter I guess that's what's supposed to make this place unique. For the price I feel this spots overrated!
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- Matt Y.
- Chicago, IL
- 45 friends
- 45 reviews
3/19/2015
1 check-inFried chicken, cole slaw, mashed potatoes and thai curry cream corn. I really enjoyed this modern take on soul food. Kind of a fusion type feel with asian influences. I think that most of the food was just okay. It didnt really blow my socks off or leave a very long lasting impression.
The best part of the meal was actually the the corn muffin in my opinion. I could have happily eaten a dozen of those. Chicken was moist and flavorful but the batter was kind of soggy and not crisp enough to my liking. Chicken fat mashed potatoes definitely and the unctuous chicken flavor but slowly made me feel sick and heavy.
Pretty good food for a fair price. Would probably go somewhere else for some better friend chicken though. -
5/2/2015
This place I must say is pretty damn good! I must admit, it is a little overpriced but it will not disappoint you. Like most people, we got the honey butter fried chicken. What exactly does that entail? You are given the chicken and some honey butter to slap it on top of your chicken. What amazed me the most is how quickly the butter melted and when I took that first bite, it was the best buttered chicken I ever ate! Another thing I really liked was that there wasn't as much grease. Usually when I'm eating friend chicken, it's really greasy and oily but this chicken opt that problem out which was perfect. We also had the mashed potatoes and it was pretty average. If anything, i would only come back for the fried chicken because with that and the butter, it's the best duo.
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- Kathleen C.
- Chicago, IL
- 103 friends
- 928 reviews
- Elite ’15
3/16/2015
1 check-inOk - I was hesitant to try and go at the last minute on unofficial Chicago St. Patrick's day, but I did it anyway and I am glad that I did.
We lucked out and didn't have a ton of folks ahead of us in line (I can't say the same thing about when we left!).
I tried the buffalo chicken sandwich and also had a bite of the honey butter fried chicken 'regular' chicken sandwich. Both were AMAZING. OMG - I want to eat this every day.
The space is night and they have a great back patio. I assume it's packed almost always. Prices are reasonable and they also had some fun drink specials, though we didn't try them out.
All in all, a great spot, perfect for lunch, dinner or take-out. Really friendly staff and amazing and delicious food! -
- Jackie O.
- Chicago, IL
- 106 friends
- 155 reviews
6/8/2015
4pcs + 3 sides + 2 lemonades = $37. Eep.
It's a little stiff for two people, but you can't argue the quality, service and flavor that comes pouring out of this place with love. I have been once for bruch: fried chicken over french toast with honey butter and a maple bourbon glaze (till my favorite thing here so far). The two times I came for dinner, I had friend chicken with a variety of sides. The lime/chili sweet potatoes were excellent - but a weird flavor combo with the honey butter chicken. I wouldn't recommend 'em. Pimento mac n cheese is solid. The classics of cabbage/kale slaw and mashed taters in gravy are the way to go!
*I don't know who does the hiring here, but they have an eye for having overall handsome guys on staff. Just a word to the ladies. ;)
Hours
| Mon | Closed | |
|---|---|---|
| Tue | Closed | |
| Wed | 11:00 am - 9:00 pm | |
| Thu | 11:00 am - 9:00 pm | Open now |
| Fri | 11:00 am - 10:00 pm | |
| Sat | 11:00 am - 10:00 pm | |
| Sun | 11:00 am - 9:00 pm |
Menu
- Corn Muffins
- Price varies
- Creamed Corn
- 3.75
More business info
-
- Takes Reservations
- No
- Delivery
- No
- Take-out
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Yes
- Good For
- Brunch
- Parking
- Street
- Bike Parking
- Yes
- Good for Kids
- Yes
- Good for Groups
- Yes
- Attire
- Casual
- Ambience
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Average
- Alcohol
- Full Bar
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Has TV
- No
- Waiter Service
- No
- Caters
- Yes
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309 reviews
The biscuit was pure voodoo magic, soft, flakey and it had flavor!
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